Sharp rolls out electronic dictionaries with MP3 playback

We're going to try hard not to rag on Sharp too much for continuing to pump out electronic dictionaries; we get that these are destined mainly for Asian markets, where customers (and language schools that charge extortionary fees) still have some interest in dedicated devices, rather than PDAs or smartphones that can handle dictionary software and a whole lot more. So, we have to give Sharp at least some props for adding MP3 playback functions to its FD-7000MP, SD-S90, and SD-M50 e-dictionaries, which are apparently targeted at the Korean market. The three models have the usual dictionary functions, including the ability to hold up to 31 different dictionaries at once, and the high-end FD-7000MP also includes an e-book reader. But the most important feature built into all three is the ability to play back MP3s while using the dictionary. So, now it's possible for users to listen to, say, Korean singer BoA, while looking up the translation of "lame pop music knows no borders."

[lebroz @ Dec 27th 2005 1:49PM]

this is gangsta



all this needs is a firmware hack



can you imagine what this baby can do unlocked

[MiDri @ Dec 27th 2005 1:49PM]

Now eye r lernzed to spek goods an listn two mp3z az da sam teyem;

[me @ Dec 27th 2005 8:01PM]

Somehow I can read MiDri's comment quite fluently.

[OddManOut @ Dec 27th 2005 9:53PM]

I don't think dedicated dictionaries are all that silly. Smart phones (well, actually MOST cell phones in Japan) and PDA's work 'ok' I suppose, touch screens come in particularly handy for Kanji lookup, but a QWERTY KEYBOARD really makes things easier. And that is something the majority of PDA's and phones lack (true, many smartphones have such, but they're not easy to TYPE on).



Case in point, I am currently attending one of those language schools mentioned (though the rates are not extortionary...expensive, but reasonable) and I'm in the market for a 'denshi-jisho'. I actually fiddled around with one of these mp3 playing Sharp models just last week in Nagoya. They're pretty good. But they cost about $350. So instead I decided to go for a used Mobilepro 790 and JWPCE (a free dictionary program). But why the 5+ year old Mobilepro ? In adition to it being capable of so much more (as the article suggests) It's KB is 92% full size and completely touch typable. But that said you'd be hard pressed to find a mobern PDA with such. Except of course the Mobilepro 900/c which starts at $450 used.



IMHO the Mobilpro makes a pretty good (albeit slightly large) electronic dictionary with a little tinkering, but if you're not a tech masochist a dedicated unit is probably much simpler and easier than any other solution.



As for integrating an MP3 player...makes perfect sense to me. I'll admit I've got fond memories of hours spent in the college cafeteria with books and drinks and pens and papers spread in a half halo around me on the table as I slaved away memorizing grammer and vocab, but more than once I thought it must be rather a ridiculous sight to have all the electronics in evidense that I did (Phone, discman, older electronic dictionary). It would be nice to consolodate some of them together.



Just my opinion...

[wolssiloa @ Dec 28th 2005 2:00AM]

many higher-end electronic dictionaries have been able to play back mp3s for a long time now, maybe more than 1-2 years now. They were made by companies Westerners probably have not head of, such as A-One Pro. There are even Sharp electronic dictionaries that could play mp3s even before these particular models.

[blip @ Dec 28th 2005 5:38AM]

OddManOut: You are totally right.



ENGADGET CREW:

There is *nothing* as good as a *dedicated* electronic dictionary. PDA:s are *crap* compared to these. The only thing I gather from your news post is that none of you have ever studied a language like japanese or chinese. When or if you ever do, you will soon realize that an electronic dictionary is second to none when it comes to looking up words, characters and sentence patterns. The problem might be to find and choose the right one which has relevant dictionaries of *good* quality but then again most of the electronic dictionaries are of good quality as long as they are $200-300.



PDA:s have a very limited library of dictionaries and most of them just plainly suck - due to limited contents and/or input problems. Believe me, I have tried - hard enough. Nothing beats keyboard typing for quick input even if a stylus input could be nice for kanji every now and then (there are some chinese-jap-eng ones that have this and it seems to be getting more popular just in the last few months). That said, though, it usually takes a couple of seconds if you know your "kanji-theory".



Don't post about things you know nothing about. Without my dictionary I'd have to pack jap-eng, eng-jap, kanji and classical japanese dictionaries for my studies. No joke, I and many other students in east-asian languages *need* those 3-4kg of books worth (not taking the volume into account) for our everyday studies. Sure there are positives with a regular paper dicitionary as well but when you are given a text you have never seen before on a subject you might not have even heard about it will be a test of your nerves and patience. Having a electronic dictionary is a pain reliever, to both your head and back. There is noone in my current class (japanese language fulltime studies, third year) who do not own an electronic dictionary. It's a necessity.



So please, keep posting about electronic dictionaries but stop slandering them every time. It's like me saying doctors are crap because I have never been ill (now *that* was a lie).



Now, about that mp3-player... I guess as long as it doesn't drain the batteries in one sitting... Batteries usually hold for more than a month in a plain electronic dictionary.

[ZizzyGal @ Dec 29th 2005 3:07AM]

wuts wrong with...dun bash on BoA like that!

[wtfbashingrandomartistsarewe @ Dec 29th 2005 2:34PM]

lolololol.



Yes, I will randomly pick on another singer ;D Why? Because I'm prejudiced to listen only to my usual stuff ^____^ Exactly. lololol.



lol.

[OddManOut @ Dec 30th 2005 4:34AM]

Thanks 'Blip' (congrats on making it 3 years...must be grueling...). And I agree with your comments as well. While touch screen and stylus do make entering Kanji easier than radical selection, most of the systems I've seen choke pretty bad if you deviate from whatever stroke order they recognize, and sometimes the accepted order is just plain wierd. So it's rarely worth giving up the keyboard...



Just out of curiousity, which dictionary do you use ?

[blip @ Dec 31st 2005 5:46AM]

OddManOut:



We east-asian language students need to stick together you know. ;D



Using an old, but good a trusty, Casio from 2,5 years back. On top of the usual suspects I have a classical japanese dictionary in it which has been very useful lately but sometimes I miss having an english-english (for those times when you're in "nuance-trouble" - that and the fact that I'm swedish ;)) and I really want a Korean dictionary as well. Perhaps next time in Japan I'll buy a new one. The kanji-dictionary in the Casios is pretty bad as well - called kanjigen (???). Not enough jukugo. Early Sharps (if I remember correctly) have great kanji-dictionaries but they too seem to have changed to kanjigen...

[blip @ Dec 31st 2005 5:49AM]

Oops, seems the comment system doesn't take east-asian characters, not that it's that necessary anyway. ;)

[Scorptopsy @ Dec 31st 2005 5:57PM]

BoA is one of the best Asian pop artists out there...

[Dylan @ Jan 2nd 2006 8:39PM]

Whoa, why are you calling BoA's music lame? You're the one who is lame, you piece of crap. BoA is a way better singer than you will ever be, retard.

[meeeee @ Jan 8th 2006 7:17AM]

Yeah, good luck with sales on this product oin Korean and Japan. BoA is more than what you think, asshole.